After a breakout college career, Paige Bueckers is bringing her talents to the WNBA. On Tuesday, the Dallas Wings rookie gets real about the constant comparisons to Caitlin Clark, the standout before her.
Playing for four seasons with UConn, Paige Bueckers achieved multiple accolades, finishing it with a national championship in her senior year.
Bueckers had also faced Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes twice in the playoffs: first in the Sweet Sixteen in 2021, where the Huskies won, and again in the Final Four in 2024, where the Hawkeyes avenged their loss.
The buzz around a Paige Bueckers-Clark rivalry amplifies with their first professional showdown looming. But Bueckers made it clear during an interview with Joey Mistretta: she’s not buying into the comparisons.
“Yeah, I think, running my own race, not running a race in comparison,” Bueckers said, “Because in all honesty, I don’t think me and Caitlin play at all alike. But I understand growing up in the same class, the same generation, both guards… I don’t know, but I don’t think we play alike.”
Paige Bueckers was recently asked how she deals with comparisons to Caitlin
“I think running my own race not running a race in comparison. Because in all honestly I don’t think me and Caitlin play at all alike…I used to think about it and internalize it a little bit more.” pic.twitter.com/WrkHUpKVCs
— correlation (@nosyone4) May 6, 2025
Paige Bueckers also pointed to the media for fueling the comparisons to Clark, noting that she doesn’t take them too seriously.
“Those comparisons are just media driven, narrative driven. And they’re good for the game in terms of getting people to talk about it and it being a talking point. So I’m sure we both have gotten used to it,” she added.
Paige Buckers remains locked in on her preparation with the season approaching, leaving the comparisons behind. She also appreciated the people around her who continued to support her career.
Paige Bueckers gains advice from WNBA superstar
As the top pick of the 2025 draft, Paige Bueckers enters the season under the spotlight. In an interview with USA Today, two-time WNBA champion A’Ja Wilson offered valuable advice to the rising Bueckers.
Wilson emphasized the need to seek details on the pro scene and believes Bueckers could gain them with the help of her team, Dallas.
“Ask questions and be a sponge,” Wilson said. “I know she’s gonna have vets on (her team) that’s gonna help her navigate the league.”
Q&A: A’ja Wilson’s advice for Paige Bueckers and how having her own sneakers is ‘surreal’ https://t.co/TECBLwPQAp pic.twitter.com/gEnuUNlQdL
— For The Win (@ForTheWin) May 6, 2025
The three-time MVP also looks forward to Paige Buckers’ debut and is confident she’ll be able to find her footing quickly in the league.
“Paige seems like a very great person that’s gonna adapt and adjust at her own way, and everyone else fall in line,” Wilson added. “I’m very, very excited to see her career.”
Paige Bueckers joins the Dallas Wings, a team coming off a tough 9-31 season. With her new skillset and playmaking ability, the Wings have a chance to shift the momentum and turn things around in the upcoming season.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
